Train-lighting system.



PATENTED SEPT. 12, 1905.

W. L. BLISS. TRAIN LIGHTING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION TILED APR.24. 1905.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM L. BLISS, OF BROOKLYN, NFAV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO BLISS ELECTRIC OAR LIGHTING COMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF VVISOONSIN.

TRAIN-LIGHTING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1905.

Application filed April 24, 1905. Serial No. 257,140.

To (ti/l who/7t it may concern.-

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM L. BLIss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Train-Lighting Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specilication.

The present invention relates to improvements in lighting systems which are especially adapted to be employed for lighting cars or other units of transportation by electricity.

The particular form of system to which the present invention relates is especially adapted to be employed for lighting a train of cars. Each car in the train is equipped with a storage battery and lamps, and a single generator, which is driven by an axle or similar means, furnishes current to all of the cars.

The object of the present invention is to provide a system wherein the number of cars in the train may be changed and output of the generator vary accordingly.

It is also the objectof the present invention to provide a system wherein constant current will be maintained for charging the storage battery upon each car at constant speed of the generator, notwithstanding changes in the number of lamps in operation upon said car.

The present application sets forth and claims a modification of an invention which is disclosed in an application filed by me July 20, 1904, Serial No. 217,386.

According to the present invention an automatic rheostatic device or variable resistance is employed to regulate the generator, so as to confine the output thereof within prearranged limits, notwithstanding its wide variations in speed. The automatic rheostatic device or variable resistance may be of various forms, and it may operate in various ways to regulate the generator. It is preferable to place an automatic rheostatic device upon each car and so arrange all the rheostatic devices that the same may operate individually or collectively in regulating the generator; but it will be understood that the generator may be properly regulated by a single rheostatic device without departing from the invention so far as certain features thereof are concerned.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a system which will be explained for the purpose of disclosing the present invention. It will of course be understood that the system illustrated in said drawingmay be changed in many ways without departing from the invention and, furthermore, that the drawing illustrates merely sufficient features of the system to disclose the invention.

The generator which furnishes the current to light the cars is preferably arranged upon the tender of the locomotive; but it may be located elsewhere upon the train. Itis preferably provided with an armature 1 and a shunt field-winding 2. The armature is preferably geared to an axle. The train is preferably provided with a train-line or main circuit, which extends through the cars or units thereof, said train-line preferably being com posed of conductors 3, I, and 5. The conductors I and 5 are preferably connected to the generator at the forward end of the train by conductors or supply-mains 6 and 7, and the conductors 4c and 5 are preferably connected to each other at the rear end of the train by a conductor or jumper 9.

The equipment which is installed upon each car will now be explained. The drawing illustrates the equipments for two cars, and as both equipments are alike reference will be made to a single car in explaining the same. Each car is provided with a local circuit composed of conductors 9 and 10 and preferably arranged across the train-line, the conductor 9 being connected to the conductor 5 and the conductor 10 being connected to the conductor As the length of the circuit between the generator and each local circuit is the same, equal voltages will be impressed upon the several local circuits. Each car preferably carries a storage battery 11 and a group of lamps 12, said storage battery and said lamps being arranged in parallel in the local circuit. The local circuit is thus divided into parallel branches, the storage battery being arranged in one branch and the lamps in the other. The lamp branch of the local circuit is preferably provided with a switch 14, by which the circuit of the lamps may be opened and closed.

vided with an automatic switch adapted to connect the storage battery and the lamps to the train-line or disconnect the same therefrom. The automatic switch may be provided The local circuit is preferably pro- .trated.

with stationary contacts 14 and 15 and a movable contact 16. The movable contact is preferably carried by a plunger 17, which is actuated by electromagnetic windings 18 and 19. The winding 18 is preferably arranged across the local circuit between the switch-contacts and the train-line, and the winding 19 is preferably arranged in the local circuit in series with the switch-contacts and the storage battery. The shunt-winding 18 will cause the switch to close whenever the voltage of the generator equals that of the storage battery, and when the switch is closed the series winding 19 will be energized by current flowing through the local circuit. So long as the generator sends current through the local circuit the series winding 19 will assist the shuntwinding in keeping the movable contact firmly in engagement with the stationary contacts. Whenever the voltage of the generator falls below that of the storage battery, current will flow backward through the local circuit from the said battery. The series Winding will then oppose the slnmt-winding, thereby causing the switch to open. Each car also preferably carries an automatic rheostatic device, which is preferably provided with aseries of resistance-plates 20, of carbon or other suitable material. The resistance-plates are placed in contact with each other, and the same are preferably arranged between a stationary terminal block 21 and a movable terminal block 22. The position of the stationary terminal block may be adjusted by a screw 23. The movable terminal block is preferably mounted upon a plunger 24. The resistance-plates are caused to press together by a spring 25, which preferably engages the plunger 24:. The tension of the spring 25 may be adjusted bya screw 26. The pressure between the resistanceplates is controlled by an electromagnetic winding 27, which attracts the plunger 24, said electromagnet preferably being arranged in the battery branch of the local circuit in series with the storage battery. It will be understood that the electromagnet 27 may be arranged in circuit in other ways, so long as it accomplishes a result which is equivalent to that attained by arranging it in the Way illus The stationary terminal block 21 is preferably connected to the local main 9 by a conductor 28, and the movable terminal block 22 is preferably connected to one terminal of the shunt field-winding 2 by a conductor 29. The other terminal of said shunt field-winding is preferably connected to the conductor 6. The resistance-plates 20 are thus arranged in the field-circuit of the generator in series with the shunt field-winding 2.

It will be understood that the automatic rheostatic device or variable resistance may be of various forms and that the same may accomplish its purpose in various ways.

\Nhen'the generator is in operation, current will flow from the supply-main 6 through conductor 4: and jumper 8 to conductor Thence it will flow dividingly through the local circuits and linally reunite in conductor 5 and flow to the supply-main 7. If the voltage of the generator be substantially equal to that of the storage battery, the current for operating the lamps will be furnished by the generator and the storage battery together; but if it be greater than that of the storage battery the generator will furnish the entire current for operating the lamps and also current for charging the storage battery. It being assumed that the voltage of the generator is greater than that of the storage battery, current will flow in each local circuit from the local main 10 through the automatic switch, thence dividingly through the battery and lamp branches of the local circuit to the local main 9, and the generator will then furnish suflicient current to operate the lam ps and also charge the storage battery. hen the generator becomes inoperative, thereby causing the voltage thereof to fall below that of the storage battery, the automatic switch will open, and th us preventthestorage battery from discharging currentonto the train-line. The lamps will then be operated by current from the storage battery. The current in the field-circuit of the generator will flow from the supply-main 6 through the field-winding 2, conductor 29, movable terminal block 22, resistance-plates 20, stationary terminal block 21, conductor 27, local main 9, and conductor 5 to the supply-main 7. hen the speed of the generator increases, the voltage impressed upon the storage battery will be increased, thereby causing the current for charging said storage battery to increase, and likewise when the speed of the generator decreases the voltage impressed upon the storage battery will decrease, thereby causing the current for charging said storage battery to decrease. The electromagnet 27 will be subjected to these variations in current and the strength thereof will vary accordingly. Upon an increase in the strength of said electromagnet the pressure between the resistance-plates 20 will be decreased, thereby causing an increase in the resistance in the field-circuit of the generator, and likewise upon a decrease in the strength of said electroi'nagnet the pressure between said resistance-plates will be increased, thereby causing a decrease in the resistance in the field-circuit of said generator. it therefore follows that upon an increase in the speed of the generator the strength of the field thereof will be decreased, and likewise upon a decrease in the speed of the generator the strength of the field thereof will be increased.

' The generator will therefore be regulated to confine the output thereof within safe limits, notwithstanding its wide variations in speed. Inasmuch as the current for charging the storage battery will increase in almost direct proportion to the rise in voltage of the gen- IIO erator above the normal voltage of said battery, the electromagnet 27 will be subjected to considerable variations in current upon slight variations in the speed of the generator, and in consequence it will be very effective in performing its functions. When cars are added to the train, the output of the generator will increase to supply the increase in the demands for current, because new parallel circuits are placed across the train-line or main circuit, and likewise when cars are taken from the train the same will decrease, because parallel circuits are removed from across the train-line or main circuit. Moreover, the output of the generator will increase whenever the number of translating devices in operation in any car increases, and likewise the same will decrease whenever the number of said translating devices in operation is decreased. The generator will therefore deliver sufficient current to supply all demands. It may be assumed where there are two cars in the train, as illustrated in the drawing, that the generator delivers seventy amperes,thirtyfive amperes being distributed to each car. When a car is added to the train, the output of the generator will increase to one hundred and five amperes, and when one is taken therefrom it will decrease to thirty-five amperes. It may be further assumed that in each car twenty amperes are consumed by the lamps and fifteen amperes are delivered to the storage battery. If the number of lamps in operation be increased until thirty-five amperes are consumed, the output of the generator will increase until fifty amperes are distributed between the storage battery and the lamps. The current for charging the storage battery will therefore remain fifteen amperes, notwithstanding the change in the current consumed by the lamps. Inasmuch as the electromagnet 2'7 is arranged in the battery-circuit, it will merely be subjected to the current which the generator sends to the storage battery; and therefore the current delivered by the generator may vary upon changes in the number of cars in the train and the number of translating devices in operation without varying the current to which said electromagnet is subjected. If said electromagnet were arranged in circuit where it would be subject to variations in current under such conditions, then it would cause the resistance in the field-circuit of the generator to so vary that the generator would be unable to vary the output thereof in accordance with the variations in the demands for current.

The number of variable resistances for regulating the generator depends upon the number of cars in the train. The several variable resistances in the system are arranged in circuit in parallel with each other, the same being arranged collectively in series with the field-winding of the generator. When the number of cars in the train is changed, the number of variable resistances in parallel will be changed, and accordingly the resistance in the field-circuit of the generator will tend to vary. This will result in a tendency of the generator to increase the output thereof, and thereby increase the current to which the electromagnets 27 are subjected, and therefore said electromagnets will tend to vary the resistance in circuit with the field-winding of the generator inversely as the change in the number of variable resistances tends to vary said resistance. Inasmuch as the collective effect of all the variable resistances will therefore be substantially the same as the individual effect of each variable resistance, the several variable resistances will operate without interfering with the action of each other, and the number thereof in parallel may be changed without thereby changing the action of the same in regulating the generator. Of course there will necessarily be a slight decrease in the resistance in the fieldcircuit of the generator upon adding cars to the train; but such a decrease will be beneficial, as it will permit the generator to slightly increase the output thereof.

It will be understood that various means may be employed inpractice to prevent the electromagnet 27 from responding when the batteries discharge current and, moreover, that any means may be employed to regulate the voltage impressed upon the lamps.

It will further be understood that many changes may be made in the system which has been set forth herein without vitiating the results which the present invention seeks to attain.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Iatent, is

1. In a train-lighting system, in combination, a generator driven at variable speed, a storage battery and translating devices carried upon each of a plurality of units of the train and connected to said generator, an automatic rheostatic device for regulating said generator to confine the output thereof within prearranged limits and provided with an electromagnet for controlling the operation thereof, said electromagnet being so arranged in circuit as to be subjected to variations in current upon variations in the speed of the generator without being subjected to variations in current upon changes in the number of cars in the train and the number of translating devices in operation.

2. In a train-lighting system. in combination, a generator driven at a variable speed and provided with a shunt field-winding, a storage battery and translating devices carried upon each of a plurality of units of the train and connected to said generator, a variable resistance arranged in the field-circuit of said generator, and an electromagnet for controlling said variable resistances, said electromagnet being so arranged in circuit as to be subjected to variations in current upon variations in the speed of the generator without beingsulrjected to variations in current upon changes in the number of cars in the train and the number of translating devices in operation.

In a train-lighting system, in combination, a generator driven at variable speed, a storage battery and a translating device carried upon each of a plurality of units of the train and connected to said generator, an automatic rheostatie device for regulating said generator to confine the output thereof Within prearranged limits and provided with an electromagnet for controlling the operation thereof, said electromagnet being so arranged in circuit as to respond to variations in current upon variations in the speed of said generator without being so subjected to variations in current upon changes in the number of cars in the train and the number of translating devices in operation in any car as to prevent said generator from making the output thereof commensurate with the demands for current.

4:. .In a train-lighting system, in combination, a generator driven at variable speed, a storage battery and translating devices carried upon each of a plurality of units of the train and connected to said generator, an automatic rheostatic device for regulating said generator to confine the output thereof within prearranged limits, and an electromagnet for controlling the operation of said automatic rheostatic device, said magnet being so arranged in circuit as to be subjected to variations in current upon variations in the speed of the said generator without being subjected to variations in current upon changes in the number of cars in the train and the number of translating devices in operation. I

5. In a train-lighting system, in combination, a generator driven at a variable speed, a local circuit arranged upon a unit of the train and connected to said generator, a storage battery and translating devices arranged in said local circuit, an automatic rheostatic device for regulating said generator to confine the output thereof within prearranged limits, an electromagnet for controlling the operation of said device and so arranged in said local circuit as to maintain constant current for charging the storage battery at constant speed of the generator; and a storage battery and translating devices carried upon each of a plurality of other units of the train and connected to said generator.

6. In a train-lighting system, in combination, a generator driven at variable speed, a local circuit arranged upon a unit of the train and connected to said generator, a storage battery and translating devices arranged in said local circuitin parallel, an automatic rheostatic device for regulating said generator to confine the output thereof Within prearranged limits, an electromagl'let for controlling the operation of said rheostatic device and arranged in the battery branch of said local circuit in series with said storage battery, and a storage battery and translating device carried upon each of other units of the train and connected to said generator.

7. In a train-lighting system, in combination, a generator driven at a variable speed and provided with a shunt lield-wimling, a local circuit connected to said generator, a storage battery and translating devices carried upon a unit of the train and connected to said local circuit in parallel, a variable resist"- ance arranged in the field-circuit of said generator, an electromagnet for controlling said variable resistance and arranged in the battery branch of said local circuit in series with said storage battery, and a storage battery and translating devices carried upon another unit of the train and connected to said generator.

8. Ina train-lighting system, in combination, a generator driven at a variable speed, a local circuit, a storage battery and translating device connected to said local circuit in parallel, an automatic rheostaticdevice tor regulating said generator to confine the output thereof within prearranged limits and provided with an electromagnet for controlling the operation thereof, said magnet being arranged in the battery branch of said local circuit in series with said storage battery, a storage battery and translating device carried upon another unit of the train, a trailrline extending through said units of the train and connected to said generator, and an automatic switch carried upon each of said units and adapted to automatically connect the storage battery and translating devices upon a unit of the train therewith to said train-line and disconnect the same therefrom.

9. In a train-lighting system, in combination, a generator driven at a variable speed, a storage battery and translating devices carried upon each of a plurality of units of the train and connected to said generator, an automatic rheostatic device for regulating said generator to confine the output thereof within prearranged limits, an electromagnet for controlling the operation of said rheostatic device, said electromagnet being so arranged in circuit as to be subjected to variations in current upon variations in the speed of said generator, and still permit constant current to be maintained for charging said storage batteries at constant speed of said generator, notwithstanding changes in the number of translating devices in operation, said rheostatic device being arranged upon a different unit of the train from said generator.

10. In a train-lighting system, in combination, a generator driven at a variable speed, a storage battery and translating devices carried upon each of a plurality of units of the train and connected to said generator, an automatic rheostatic device carried upon each of a plurality of units of the train and arranged in circuit to automatically regulate said generator and thereby confine the output thereof within prearranged limits, each rheostatic device being provided with an electromagnet for controlling the operation thereof, said magnet being so arranged in circuit as to respond to variations in current upon variations in the speed of said generator without being so subjected to variations in current upon changes in the number of cars in the train and the number of translating devices in operation as to cause said generator to be so regulated as to prevent the current from being sufiicient for the demands.

11. In a train-lighting system, in combination, a generator driven at variable speed, a storage battery and translating devices carried upon each of a plurality of units of the train and connected to said generator, an automatic rheostatic device carried upon each of said units and arranged in circuit to automatically regulate said generator and thereby confine the output thereof Within prearranged limits, the several rheostatic devices being arranged in parallel with each other and collectively in series With the field of said generator, and an electromagnet for controlling the operation of each of said rheostatic devices, each electromagnet being so arranged in circuit as to be subjected to variations in current upon variations in the speed of the generator without being so subjected to variations in current upon changes in the number of cars in the train and the number of translating devices in operation as to cause said generator to be so regulated as to prevent the current from being sufficient to operate the lamps and charge the storage batteries.

12. In a train-lighting system, in combination, a generator driven at a variable speed, a storage battery and translating devices carried upon each of a plurality of units of the train and connected to said generator, an automatic rheostatic device carried upon each of said units and arranged in circuit to regulate said generator and thereby confine the output thereof within prearranged limits, the several rheostatic devices being arranged in parallel With each other and collectively in series with the field-winding of-said generator, an electromagnet for controlling the operation of each of said rheostatic devices, said electromagnet being so arranged in circuit as to be subjected to variations in current upon variation in the speed of said generator Without being so subjected to variations in current upon changes in the number of cars in the train and in the number of translating devices in operation as to cause said generator to be so regulated as to prevent the current from being sufiicient to operate the lamps and chargethe storage batteries, and automatic switches for connecting the storage batteries and the lamps to said generator and disconnecting the same therefrom, substantially as described.

18. In a train-lighting system, in combination, a generator driven at a variable speed, a storage battery and a group of lamps carried upon each of a plurality of units of the train, said storage battery and said group of lamps being arranged in parallel branch circuits, an automatic device carried upon each of said units and arranged in circuit to regulate said generator and thereby confine the output thereof Within prearranged limits, each rheostatic device being provided with an electromagnet for controlling the operation thereof, said magnet being arranged in the battery branch circuit upon the unit of the train therewith in series with the storage battery in said branch circuit.

14. In a train-lighting system, in combination, a generator driven at a variable speed, a storage battery and group of lamps carried upon each of a plurality of units of the train,

said storage battery and said group of lamps being arranged in parallel branch circuits, an automatic rheostatic device carried upon each of said units and arranged in circuit to regulate said generator and thereby confine the output thereof within prearranged limits, the several rheostatic devices being arranged in parallel with each other and collectively in series with the field-winding of said generator and each rheostatic device being provided with an electromagnet for controlling the operation thereof, said magnet being arranged in the battery branch circuit upon the unit of the train therewith in series with the storage battery in said branch circuit.

15. In a train-lighting system, in combination, a generator driven at a variable speed, a storage battery and group of lamps carried upon each of a plurality of units of the train, said storage battery and said group of lamps being arranged in parallel branch circuits, an automatic rheostatic device carried upon each of said units and arranged in circuit to regulate said generator and thereby confine the output thereof within prearranged limits, the several rheostatic devices being arranged in parallel with each other and collectively in series with the field-winding of said generator and each rheostatic device being provided with an electromagnet for controlling the operation thereof, said magnet being arranged in the battery branch circuit upon the unit of the train therewith in series with the storage battery in said branch circuit, and automatic switches for automatically connecting said storage batteries and said lamps to said generator and disconnecting the same therefrom, substantially as described.

16. In a train-lighting system, in combination,a generator driven at a variable speed and provided with a shunt field-winding, a storage battery and lamps carried upon each of a plurality of units of the train, said storage battery and said lamps being arranged in parallel branch circuits, a variable resistance carried upon each of said units and arranged in circuit with the field-winding of said generator, and an electromagnet for controlling each of said resistances and arranged in the battery branch circuit upon the unit of the train therewith in series with the battery in said branch circuit.

17. In a train-lighting system, in combination, a generator driven ata variable speed and provided with a shunt field-winding, a storage battery and translating devices carried upon each of a plurality of units of the train and arranged in parallel branch circuits, an automatic rheostatic device carried upon each of said units, the several rheostatic devices being arranged in parallel with each other and collectively in series with said field-winding, and an electromagnet for controlling the operation of each rheostatic device, each magnet being arranged in the battery branch circuit upon the unit of the train therewith in series with the battery in said branch circuit.

18. In a train-lighting system, in combination a generator driven at a variable speed, and provided with a shunt field-winding, a storage battery and translating devices carried upon each of a plurality of units of the train and arranged in parallel branch circuits, an automatic rheostatic device carried upon each of said units, the several rheostatic devices being arranged in parallel with each other and collectively in series with said fieldwinding, an electromagnet for controlling the operation of each rheostatic device, each magnet being arranged in the battery branch circuit upon the unit of the train therewith in series with the storage batteryin said branch circuit, and automatic switches for connecting said storage batteries and said lamps to said generator and disconnecting the same therefrom.

19. In a train-lighting system, in combina tion, a generator driven at a variable speed, a train-line extending from said generator and passing through a plurality of units of the train, a local circuit arranged upon each of said units, each local circuit being provided with an automatic switch for controlling the same, a storage battery and translating devices arranged in parallel branches of each local circuit, an automatic rheostatic device carried upon each of said units and operatively connected in circuit with said generator to confine the output thereof within prearranged limits, and an electromagnet for controlling the operation of each of said devices and arranged in the battery branch circuit upon the unit of the train therewith in series with the battery in said branch circuit.

20. In a train-lighting system, in combination, a generator driven at a variable speed, a train-line extending from said generator and passing through a plurality of units of the train, a local circuit arranged upon each of said units and connected across said train-line, each local circuit being provided with an automatic switch for controlling the same, a storage battery and translating devices arranged in parallel branches of each local circuit, an automatic rheostatic device carried upon each of said units and operatively connected in circuit with said generator to confine the output thereof within prearranged limits, the several rheostatic devices being arranged in parallel with each other and collectively in series with the field-winding of said generator, and an electromagnet for controlling the operation of each rheostatic device, each n'iagnet being arranged in the battery branch circuit upon the unit of the train therewith in series with the battery in said branch circuit.

21. In a train-lighting system, in combination, a generator driven at a variable speed and carried upon a unit of thetrain, an equipment for each car consisting of a storage battery and translating devices arranged in parallel branch circuits, an automatic switch for connecting said storage battery and said lamps to said generator and disconnecting the same therefrom, and an automatic rheostatic device for regulating said generator to confine the output thereof within prearranged limits, said rheostatic device being provided with an electromagnet for controlling the operation thereof and arranged in thebattery branch circuit upon the unit of the train therewith in series with the battery in said branch circuit.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM L. BLISS.

\Vitnesses:

EDWIN B. H. Towun, Jr., J. N. RoBuR'rsoN. 

